Home Office

Independent Child Trafficking Guardianship Service

Lord McColl of Dulwich: To ask His Majesty's Government how many children and young people were supported by the Independent Child Trafficking Guardian service between January and September; and, of those, how many (1) were supported by a direct worker, and (2) were under the oversight of a Regional Practice Coordinator.

Lord McColl of Dulwich: To ask His Majesty's Government how many children and young people who were supported by the Independent Child Trafficking Guardian service between January and September had experienced (1) sexual exploitation, (2) criminal exploitation, (3) labour exploitation, and (4) domestic servitude.

Lord McColl of Dulwich: To ask His Majesty's Government, further tothe final report of the Independent Review of the Modern Slavery Act 2015, published on 22 May 2019, and theInterim Guidance for Independent Child Trafficking Guardians, updated on 18 November 2021,how many children and young people who had someone with parental responsibility were supported with one-to-one support from the Independent Child Trafficking Guardians service between January and September; how many young people had support from theIndependent Child Trafficking Guardians service continued after their 18th birthday, between January and September; and when they intend to publish evaluations of the tests of those models.

Lord Sharpe of Epsom: Independent Child Trafficking Guardians (ICTGs) operate in two thirds of local authorities across England and Wales, in addition to the statutory support provided to children by local authorities.ICTGs provide an additional source of advice and support for potentially trafficked children, irrespective of nationality, and somebody to advocate on their behalf to ensure their best interests are reflected in the decision-making of the public authorities involved in their care.The ICTG service model provides one-to-one support for children with no parental responsibility for them in the UK via an ICTG Direct Worker and an expert ICTG Regional Practice Co-ordinator for children where there is someone with parental responsibility for them in the UK.The data requested regarding ICTGs for the timeframe specified has not previously been published and has not yet been verified. We are therefore unable to release the information at this time.Data tables published in November 2021 in the UK Annual Report on Modern Slavery: 2021 UK Annual Report on Modern Slavery (accessible version) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)(opens in a new tab) show the numbers of children referred to Direct Workers and Regional Practice Coordinators, broken down by region, in 2019 and 2020.To date, two evaluations on the ICTG service have been published: An evaluation of Independent Child Trafficking Guardians - early adopter sites: Final report - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) and An assessment of Independent Child Trafficking Guardians - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)There are currently no plans to publish the evaluation report of changes to the ICTG service from the Independent Review of the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

Electric Vehicles: Road Traffic Offences

Baroness McIntosh of Pickering: To ask His Majesty's Government how many fines or other penalties have been imposed for breaches of road traffic laws by (1) e-bikes, and (2) e-scooters, in each of the past six months.

Lord Sharpe of Epsom: The Home Office collects and publishes data on fixed penalty notices (FPNs) and other outcomes for motoring offences in England and Wales on an annual basis, as part of the ‘Police Powers and Procedures: Other PACE’ statistical bulletin. The most recent data, up to 2021, is available here:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1118166/fixed-penalty-notices-and-other-motoring-offences-statistics-police-powers-and-procedures-year-ending-31-december-2021.odsHowever, the Home Office does not centrally collect data on the type of vehicle involved in the offence.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Sudan: Humanitarian Aid

The Earl of Sandwich: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking toencourage international donors to mobilise further humanitarian funds for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Sudan.

Lord Benyon: The UK is working with the UN, other donors and humanitarian agencies to coordinate the effective delivery of aid to Sudan, including to support the many people who have been displaced by the conflict. At the Sudan Pledging Event on 19 June, a total of $1.52 billion was pledged to fund life-saving relief efforts in Sudan and the region. In November, the UK announced £14.3 million in humanitarian aid for Sudan, bringing our total support to £36 million for 2023-2024. We continue to work with international partners, such as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), to press the parties to allow unfettered humanitarian access, and for the provision of continued support for the Sudanese people.

Sudan: Humanitarian Aid

The Earl of Sandwich: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps theyare taking to increase the UK's response to acute humanitarian needs in Sudan and South Sudan.

Lord Benyon: The UK's top humanitarian priority in Sudan is to secure humanitarian access and operational security guarantees for humanitarian agencies. In November, we announced £14.3 million in humanitarian aid for Sudan, bringing our total support to £36 million for 2023-2024. This year, the UK has also committed £28.1 million of humanitarian aid to South Sudan, including £2.25 million to help meet the urgent needs of refugees and returnees there, who have fled the violence in Sudan. UK support is being delivered through the UN and other trusted partners and includes crucial food security and nutrition assistance, safe drinking water, medical care, shelter, and protection services including for those affected by Gender Based Violence (GBV).

Sudan: Internally Displaced People

The Earl of Sandwich: To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of (1) internally displaced people in, and (2) the number of refugees from, Sudan and South Sudan.

Lord Benyon: Since 15 April, over 1.4 million people are estimated to have fled Sudan to neighbouring countries since fighting broke out, 338,374 people have fled to Egypt; 550,407 to Chad; 413,516 to South Sudan; 93,310 to Ethiopia; 25,428 to The Central African Republic (CAR). According to the International Organisation for Migration, there are 2.2 million internally displaced persons in South Sudan, and more than 2.3 million South Sudanese are refugees in neighbouring countries in the East African region. The UK is monitoring the situation in Sudan and South Sudan closely, including the humanitarian and security impacts of the conflict on Sudan's neighbouring countries.

Bahrain: Human Rights

Lord Scriven: To ask His Majesty's Government by what process the removal of Bahrain from the list of human rights priority countries in the 2022 FCDO Human Rights and Democracy Report, published on 13 July, was approved.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The process for the removal of Bahrain from the list of FCDO Human Rights Priority Countries was via a Ministerial Submission. The decision to remove Bahrain from the Human Rights Priority Country list reflects consistent and systemic progress in a range of human rights areas over a number of years, some of which have been directly supported by the UK. The UK remains committed to supporting reforms in Bahrain and to encouraging the government to meet its human rights commitments.

Israel: Palestinians

The Marquess of Lothian: To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, following his mission to Israel, Palestine, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Jordan on 16 to 20 November, on working with the EU in supporting the establishment of a Palestinian state as the best way of ensuring Israel’s security.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The Foreign Secretary has not met with EU High Representative Borrell since his visit to the region between 16 and 20 November. However, the Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary and Minister for the Middle East continue to engage with international partners, including European partners, on this conflict.

Guatemala: Human Rights

Lord Browne of Ladyton: To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Guatemala regarding reports of threats against the Indigenous human rights defender Lesbia Artola and other members of the Comité Campesino del Altiplano in Guatemala.

Lord Browne of Ladyton: To ask His Majesty's Government whether they are making representations to the government of Guatemala regarding the protection of Indigenous leaders and human rights defenders in Guatemala from attacks and forced eviction, in the light ofthe findings ofthe report by the Independent Delegations of International Lawyers to Guatemala “We are not trespassers: this is our land”: Agrarian conflict and Indigenous peoples' rights in Alta Verapaz, published in September .

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: When Minister Rutley visited Guatemala in April, he spoke with representatives from civil society groups about the need to protect space for environmental and human rights defenders including those from indigenous communities. These concerns are regularly reflected in bilateral discussions we have with the Guatemalan Government and in international fora, including in the UK's response to the 42nd Universal Periodic Review of Human Rights in Guatemala. We also regularly raise the issue of human rights defenders and land defenders in Guatemala via our Embassy in Guatemala City, working in conjunction with other international partners, with the aim of promoting full respect for human rights for all Guatemalans. FCDO Officials attended a roundtable with the Independent Delegation of International Lawyers to Guatemala on 18 October in order to discuss the findings of their report and consider their recommendations.

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands: Fisheries

Lord Cameron of Dillington: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to tackle the harmful impact of commercial fishing in South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (SGSSI) Marine Protected Area (MPA), designated by the SGSSI Government in 2012 and strengthened in 2013 and 2019, aims to conserve the rich marine diversity and provide the framework for management and research. The zone covers 1.24 million km2. Fishing is highly regulated and carried out in a way that protects the marine ecosystem.Bottom trawling is prohibited throughout. Longline fishing is limited to depths of between 700 and 2,250 metres, restricted to 6 per cent of the MPA. Toothfish and krill fishing is only permitted during four winter months to reduce the impact on seabirds, penguins, seals and whales. No take zones, where all fishing activity is prohibited, cover 283,000km2 and include the most biodiverse regions of the seabed.

Dams: Safety

Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to promote international safety standards fortailings damsfollowing the collapse of the Fundão Dam near Mariana in Brazil in 2015.

Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the adoption of the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management following the collapse of the Fundão Dam near Mariana in Brazil in 2015.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The Department for Business & Trade's (DBT) Responsible Mining Team in Brazil have promoted best practice on tailings dams since 2016. They led a mission to the UK in November to build on work to implement the Global Industrial Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM) and have organised roundtables in partnership with United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to promote the GISTM in Brazil. UK Ministers for the Americas and Europe have highlighted work to improve safety measures around tailings dam management, including in October in a meeting with the law firm representing victims of the Mariana Dam incident and at a Westminster Hall Debate in June.

Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

Housing: Immigration

Lord Birt: To ask His Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the impact on the housing market of net migration reaching 745,000 in 2022.

Baroness Penn: Net migration inevitably has an impact on demand for housing. That is why this Government continues to act to control migration and stop illegal migration.The Nationality and Borders Act 2022 has started delivering a major overhaul of our immigration and asylum system, laying the foundations for further immigration and asylum reform.

Plymouth and South Devon Freeport: Small Businesses

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they will take to ensure thatthe Plymouth Freeport project contributes to creating a favourable environment for small businesses to access finance opportunities.

Baroness Penn: Freeports offer significant advantages to SMEs, including reduced taxes, simplified customs, improved infrastructure, and most notably, the fostering of business clustering environments. Plymouth and South Devon Freeport is focussed on developing incubator units at the new innovation centre which will provide an ideal environment to encourage SMEs. With Freeports now operational, they will continue engagement with SME bodies, ensuring they are well-informed and supported to capitalise fully on these collaborative environments and other advantages Freeports offer.On 20 November we were delighted to announce that Plymouth City Council were provisionally allocated £19,946,417 in Round 3 of the Levelling Up Fund which we hope will accelerate Plymouth's waterfront regeneration.

Teesworks Joint Venture Independent Review

Lord Scriven: To ask His Majesty's Government when they plan to publish the findings of the independent review of the Teesworks Joint Venture, and at whose request and for what reasons publication has been delayed.

Baroness Penn: The timing of the review is dictated by the pace at which the independent panel are able to conduct their investigation. Ministers have not yet received the report. We understand that the report is of interest to parliament and the public alike and hope to be able to publish it shortly.

Treasury

Debts: Cuba

Lord Blencathra: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byBaroness Vere of Norbiton on 22 November (HL158),why they agreed to defer Cuba’s debt repayments in 2021, how much the UK is owed by Cuba as a member of the Group of Creditors of Cuba, and when payment is expected.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: As outlined in the answer to HL549, the Group of Creditors to Cuba (GCC), including the UK, agreed in 2021 to defer payments due under the 2015 Agreement. This was on the basis of the Republic of Cuba’s economic and financial situation and the Cuban Government’s efforts to support Cuban economic development in the context of Covid-19. The GCC and Cuba have confirmed their willingness to preserve the 2015 Agreement and commitment to ensure its full implementation. The GCC has not published the terms of implementation.

National Insurance Fund

Lord McNicol of West Kilbride: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the National Insurance Fund is classified as a liability or a contingent liability on their balance sheet.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: It is neither a liability nor a contingent liability but is recorded as an asset on the government balance sheet.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Ofwat: Economic Growth

Baroness Hayman of Ullock: To ask His Majesty's Government how they envisage the work of Ofwat will contribute to the revised Growth Duty, which was announced alongside the Autumn Statement.

Lord Benyon: Ofwat lead the independent price review process to determine investment plans for water companies from 2025 to 2030, with proposed business plans currently containing a planned £96 billion of investment between 2025 and 2030. Ofwat are now in the process of scrutinising these plans to ensure they meet the targets for environmental improvements and other obligations, without unduly impacting customers’ bills. Once the Growth Duty requirements come into force on 6 April 2024, Ofwat will also need to consider the promotion of economic growth throughout this scrutiny process.

Ofwat: Economic Growth

Baroness Hayman of Ullock: To ask His Majesty's Government whether they envisage any conflicts arising between the statutory duties of Ofwat and the revised Growth Duty, which was announced alongside the Autumn Statement; and if so, which duties should be prioritised.

Lord Benyon: As an independent regulator, Ofwat are well placed to balance their own decision making on statutory duties. This will include striking the right balance between competing pressures or duties, informed by an understanding of what approach might best support sustainable growth. There may be instances where a regulator has considered growth and reached a view that other duties or objectives may take precedence. To support this, the proposed updated guidance for the Growth Duty assists regulators in considering the importance of economic factors and how to fulfil the Growth Duty.

Agriculture: Flood Control

Baroness McIntosh of Pickering: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the role of farmlandin mitigating potential flood damage by retaining excess water on fields in times of floods, and whether they haveplans to reward farmers in this regard.

Lord Benyon: Farmers and land managers can, and do, play a key role in helping to mitigate flood risks, by taking actions which encourage infiltration into the soil, transpiration, slowing the flow of water through a catchment and, in the event of a flood, temporarily storing water away from a watercourse to help protect communities, infrastructure and businesses (including agricultural businesses) downstream. There will be measures that benefit flood risk mitigation in all three Environmental Land Management schemes: Sustainable Farming Incentive, Countryside Stewardship, and Landscape Recovery. Some areas of land will flood naturally. Anyone farming on a natural flood plain should expect water to enter the flood plain as a result of natural processes. There is no right to compensation or other payments for natural flooding. In some cases, the Environment Agency will create a temporary flood storage area on private land using its powers under the Water Resources Act 1991. These areas are designed in liaison with land managers and operated by the Environment Agency. Landowners are entitled to compensation to cover the losses and damages they incur when such a scheme is carried out on their land.

Cabinet Office

Sayed Alwadaei

Lord Scriven: To ask His Majesty's Government when the Prime Minister received a letter from Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei of the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy, sent on 9 November, in relation to the racial hostility he was subjected to by a Member of Parliament, and when they are intending to respond to the allegations made in it.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe: This letter relates to the Conservative Party.

Ministers: Pay

Lord Forsyth of Drumlean: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Neville-Rolfe of 28 November (HL 277), whether they will now answer the question put, namely to list the ministers and whips in the House of Lords alongside their respective salaries and allowances.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe: The ministers and whips in the House of Lords and their respective claimed salaries for financial year 2023-2024 are as follows:MinisterSalaryThe Rt Hon the Lord Cameron£104,360The Rt Hon the Lord True£104,360Baroness Neville-RolfeUnpaidBaroness Vere of Norbiton£70,969Lord Ahmad of WimbledonUnpaidThe Rt Hon the Lord BenyonUnpaidLord Sharpe of Epsom£70,969The Earl of MintoUnpaidLord Bellamy KCUnpaidViscount CamroseUnpaidBaroness Scott of Bybrook£70,969Baroness Penn£70,969Lord MarkhamUnpaidRobbie Douglas-MillerUnpaidThe Rt Hon the Earl HoweUnpaidLord JohnsonUnpaidLord Offord of GarvelUnpaidLord Callanan£70,969Viscount Younger of Leckie£70,969Baroness BarranUnpaidLord Davies of Gower£70,969Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay£70,969Lord Caine£65,625Lord Stewart of Dirleton KC£94,772The Rt Hon the Baroness Williams of Trafford£81,485The Earl of Courtown£70,969Lord Gascoigne£65,625Lord Harlech£65,625Lord Evans of Rainow£65,625Lord RoboroughUnpaidBaroness SwinburneUnpaid In line with the Ministerial and Other Pensions Act 1991, Lords ministers are able to claim the Lords Office-Holders Allowance (LOHA). There are two rates for LOHA: Lords ministers living in London can claim £4,435 for the financial year 2023-2024, and Lords ministers living outside of London can claim £36,366 per year. Lords ministers who are unpaid may choose between claiming either LOHA or the Lords Daily Allowance. Lords ministers who receive a salary are not permitted to claim the Lords Daily Allowance.

Department for Transport

Electric Scooters: Regulation

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to strengthen the regulation of e-scooters and e-bikes following the 1,080 collisions and 7 deaths in the 12 months to June.

Lord Davies of Gower: The law is already clear, private e-scooters are illegal to use on public roads, cycle lanes or pavements and rental e-scooters may only be used within trial areas run by the Department. A range of motoring offences and penalties also already apply for using an e-scooter illegally and/or irresponsibly. Users can face criminal prosecution, a fixed penalty notice, points on their driving licence, and the e-scooter can be impounded.The Department intends to consult on proposals for e-scooter regulations in due course and is progressing research to fill wider evidence gaps.There are already regulations in place which govern the use of e-bikes on the public highway. All road users have a duty to behave in a safe, responsible manner and to follow the rules in The Highway Code. Enforcement is a matter for the police.